Tamping?

[bogfire]

I am just wondering what is tamping? I see great pictures of members with brass tampers, what are they used for?

I am a simple man and just put the tobacco in the pipe bowl,push it down with my finger, light it and smoke it.

Is there some other way I could be doing it?

 

[cortezattic]

Sarcasm noted. :puffpipe:

 

[bogfire]

Sorry, no sarcasm intended. I honestly have no idea what a tamper is used for. I love the Thoreau quote by the way.

 

[didimauw]

Tamper, finger, stick, big toe, it's all the same. Some cost more than others.
As you smoke, push it down occasionally. Sposed ta keep er going er something.

 

[npod]

Tamping may (or may not) be important to an individual pipe smoker.
Tamping Important: FLAKE TOBACCO, slow smoke competitions, for those who want to smoke to the bottom, for long smokes, for mixing tobacco.
Tamping Not Important: SHAG/AROMATIC TOBACCO, smoking without considering the experience or timing, walking the dogs, in the car, etc. For example, my Grandpa never used a tamper, always his finger or a nail. He didn't care at all.
Also, never underestimate the ability of a pipe smoker to over think minuscule details like tamping. Many even collect tampers and care very much about the quality it adds to the smoking experience.

 

[bnichols23]

toe, it's all the same. Some cost more than others.

Didi, is my brain (or whatever's left of it) playing tricks on me? That sounds familiar, like I've seen you use it before?
Bill

 

[cosmicfolklore]

Just keep in mind that they are meant to gently crush down the ash. It's not a ramrod for a cannon.

 

[Chasing Embers]

I only use the weight of the tamper to bring the ember back down to the tobacco as it expands.

 

[bnichols23]

^^^ Yeah, but your tamper weighs a pound & a helf. } [grin, duck, & run like hell]
B

 

[cosmicfolklore]

...and a golf tee isn't going to have any weight at all... well, not enough weight...

 

[cigrmaster]

I have a few nice tampers I have gotten over the years but basically just use the one that is part of my lighter. I tamp after the charring light. I use the pick end of my tamper to gently stir ash before dumping it. I use a tamper to scrap the edges of my bowl when smoking folded and stuffed flakes. If my bowl begins to fade I will tamp to get the embers going again.
A tamper is a very useful tool when smoking. I have also seen old timers who never use one, but codgers are not what we are here. We are the mavens of the pipe world and accoutrements are part of who we are. ::

 

[mso489]

Tamping is an art. You can use the tamper before your first light to even up the bowl and break down pieces that might not have settled in place. You can use the tamper as you smoke to bring the ember closer to the unlit tobacco below it. Before a relight, you use the tamper to settle leaf and ash in place for more even burning. You can even use a tamper to detect when the ember has burnt so low it is unlikely there is any more tobacco down there. As you learn this very gentle art, its subtlety and nuance will occur to you and you will enjoy your growing expertise. It's better learned through experience than taught, but there's a first lesson.

 

[crashthegrey]

I often use my finger, but I quite like the results of a tamper. My finger is slightly less discolored and the callous is lessening lately. Lol. Seriously, I find a tamper quite a nice addition.

 

[warren]

double post

 

[warren]

If, I sayIsay, if I'm at a "dressy" occasion I have a "Cosmic", custom made, tamper I break out. (I'm quite proud of it. I owe him and the crowd here a photo. I've only had that obligation for a couple of years now. Sorry Cosmic!) Otherwise, usually a finger and with either I usually tilt it a little and give it a quarter turn while pressing gently. "Why?" some of you ask. "Dunno. Just seems to get results with fewer relights."
There is also "aingiseoir" but, only an Irish speaker could begin to explain the subtleties of that word. I am a third degree black belt Aingiseoir. Should be some "fadas" in the spelling but, I'm too lazy to switch the keyboard to Irish.

 

[didimauw]

Bill, yes I can clench my pipe and use my toe to tamp the tobacco with. :mrgreen:

 

[didimauw]

I have heard of these "cosmic Tampers". But they are only for the worthy.

 

[bogfire]

Thank you all for taking the time to explain. Much clearer now. I also understand the joy of acquiring. My wife asks why I need more pipes or more then one guitar.

 

[warren]

Reply to her question that, "It is not a matter of need." Then ask her, "Why more than two pair of shoes. One is actually sufficient."

 

[admiral]

Interesting for me is just the opposite. The light usually gets off because of tamping.

If my bowl begins to fade I will tamp to get the embers going again.